Sharing The Road With Cyclists

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Cycling is becoming more and more popular in the US as a
form of recreation and exercise and, if some have their way, bicycles will
become even more prevalent, not only on the open road but in cities as well. Cities
such as Boston, Washington DC, and Denver have installed bike-share programs
that allow commuters to use a debit card at kiosks throughout the city and rent
a bike by the hour or for the day. At least three more cities; New York, San
Francisco, and Portland Oregon are making plans for bike-sharing/rental systems.

San Francisco's bikes will be equipped with electric
motors so the users can climb the steep hills throughout the city. Portland
doesn’t see the program as providing bikes for those who commute all the way
from their home – those people have their own bikes. Instead, the program is
designed more toward those who ride public transportation and need
transportation from the end of the line to their work place. The bike sharing
programs will be studied to see if they reduce the number of motor vehicles on
the road.

With more cyclists on the road, motorists will need to
become more aware of their presence to prevent crashes.

In 2010, according
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 618 pedacyclists
were killed and an additional 52,000 were injured in motor vehicle traffic
crashes. The average age of cyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes has been
going up steadily. The number of cyclist fatalities among those ages 25 to 64
was 16% higher in 2010 as in 2001.

The states with the highest number of
cycling fatalities in 2010 were:

California - 99

Florida - 83

Texas - 42

New York – 36

Michigan - 29

Bicyclists, in every state, have a right to ride on every
road with the exception of limited access highways and interstates. With that
right to ride, comes the responsibility to obey all of the same traffic laws
that apply to drivers.

Cyclists should:

Ride
on the right side of the road, going with the flow of traffic.

Signal
for turns and obey all stop signs and traffic lights.

Wear
helmets and clothing that makes them more visible.

Drivers need to understand and respect the cyclist’s right
to the road.

Drivers should:

Give cyclists at least three feet clearance when passing.

Look for cyclists before opening car doors.

Remember the rule at cross streets; before crossing, look
to the left, to the right, and then, back to the left again before proceeding
across the street.

One of the major problems involving sharing the road with
cyclists is that they are small, hard to see and drivers don’t usually expect
them so they don’t look for them. Drivers need to be watchful for cyclists both
approaching from the rear on the right and those approaching at a cross street.
In many collisions between motorists and cyclists, the motorist is quoted as
saying "I never saw the bike."

Learn more about what the State of Texas is doing to promote bicycle safety and how you can be a part of it:

Texas Share The Road Education Campaign - BikeTexas is a nonprofit organization that aims to advance
bicycle access, safety and education in Texas. Since their formation in
1991, they have united the voices of bicycle enthusiasts, bicycle makers
and Texas bicycle clubs.

Texas Loves Cyclists: Through the actions of the TxDOT, various bicycle advocacy groups,
city engineers and citizens, various guidelines and policies have been
put into place to ensure that Texas is a state that welcomes cyclists.

It is More than Just Buckling Up

Do you know the Texas occupant restraint laws? You may
know it by its more familiar name: the Texas seat belt safety laws. Drivers are
allowed to think that all this entails is buckling up before reach trip, but the
seat belt laws cover so much more.

Here are 3 statutes we would dissect to find out how much
you know about the seat belt laws:

Safety Belts for
Drivers and Passengers

Texas safety belt laws require front seat passengers to
be buckled up at all times. Adults are not required by law to fasten up when
they are seated in the back, while passengers under 17 must buckle up wherever
they sit. Fines may reach $25-$50, but if the passenger who is not buckled is
under the age of 17, that fine may reach up to $200. For everyone’s sake, rear
seat or not, just buckle up.

Child Passenger
Safety Seats

What about little children who may be too small for
safety belts to adequately protect? They fall under the statute for child
passenger safety seats. The safety rule is: children under the age of 5 and are
less than 3 feet tall should sit in a child safety seat. Children who may be
taller than 3 1/2 feet are not required to be in child safety seats, but are
still required to be buckled up in safety belts. Find out the height/weight of
your child, and use that as a base when looking for a child safety seat. Fines
may range from $100 - $200, not including other fees.

Riding in Truck
Open Beds

Trucks are for hauling things, not people. Did you know
that you may end up paying fines just by allowing friends or family members who
are under 18 to ride in open truck beds? Truck beds do not have the necessary
safety equipment to keep passengers fastened safely to a vehicle while moving,
which makes them extremely dangerous. There are exceptions, of course, like
riding through a parade, or when the vehicle is being used to transport farm
workers. Fines may come at $25 - $200.

Think it's all about fastening seat belts? These statutes
are really focused on keeping the children safe. Commit to being a Safe Driver....Always consider fastening your seat belt first when
riding a vehicle or driving for people.